Diana Ross - I'm Living In Shame Lyrics

was this a Holland-Dozier-Holland tune? Some of the lyrics, tho. 'Died while making home made jam'.

Morrissey loves this one too!!

Thank you!

IMITATION of LIFE what a shame the only shame is when these selfish ass kids don't respect live and understand and appreciate you til ya gone their lost so kids get it together

Motown Finest! From Blewfoot..

Growing up in the 70's I honestly knew a lady who fits this description to a tee. I would never mention her name though:-( May she RIP

My mom played this song over and over again..... Then she killed herself. I miss her desperately!

Did they bring song this out to offset liberal condemnation of "Love Child" ?? Both amazing records btw - thanks for sharing

💐🌷💐THIS SONG ALSO REMINDS ME OF THE MOVIE, " IMITATION OF LIFE" THE YOUNG LADY WHO WAS HALF WHITE AND HALF BLACK WANTED TO BE JUST ACCEPTED AS WHITE SO BAD THAT SHE WAS ASHAMED OF HER BEAUTIFUL BLACK MAMA💐🌹💐

Imitation ol Life-Wow,what a movie

💐🌹🥀💐I LOVED MY MOTHER🥀I MISS HER SO. THE LORD JESUS👑TOOK HER IN 2016 AFTER THE LORD👑 TOOK MY DADDY🥀 IN 2015💐🌷🥀💐I MISS MY PARENTS SO.💐💐💐

You're listening to DJ Timmy T and WBLS 107*5 in Stereo in NYC 🎧

I love supremes because they are amazing singers in 60's.

Living in shame 1968 was the best song I've ever heard Supremes ever sing

One of my personal favorites from them and one of the best and one of the last featuring Diana

I remember when the local radio station played this song on Mother's Day and you better believe that there were some listeners who took the message of this song to heart and shed a few tears! A very sad story put to lyrics and music!

This song reminds me of the movie The Imitation of Life. What a sad movie.

As a 12 year old, I despised this song because of the message. Still hard to listen to it 40 plus years later. Lost my mom in early 90s. Dad followed 9 years later. Loved them both very much. Miss you folks, but I’ll see you again, God willing. 🙏🏽

I love how they matched relevant pictures to the music. This song has a powerful message. Love your Mothers while you have them here.

Released 1969 not 1968.

Yes! and Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong's voice are not heard on this recording. The background singers were the Andantes.

Any songs out there praising dads?

Yea how about Fred Wedlock song The oldest swinger in town 🤣

this song and Love Child are their very best -- these two songs are revolutionary

Got to agree with you there definitely their 2 best 👍

So sad and beautiful song. I'LL always love my Mama.

wow only 999th

Just heart feeling this song

Still great 50 years on

Great song and so true.

This song reminds me of Sarah Jane in "Imitation of Life." I think the song was based on the film.

Ruby Chew I know! There’s my baby, there’s my Sarah Jane. Movie always makes me cry...

Thank you, Ruby for reminding me of that great but very sad movie!!

Hundreds of excellent tracks came out on Motown, but none of them had lyrics as good as this. Heartfelt class.

One of my favorites reminds me of being a child and super close to my mom

I guess so many of were fooled , so many of us thought it was Mary , and Cindy did the background singing why was this done, did it matter yes for me it did, I guess after flo was out of the group the last song she was to sing on was Reflections , I thing it was a shame that we were all fooled and so on

I always though this was just Diana Ross. Didn't the Motown house background singers replace Mary and Cindy after Flo was gone. I sounds like there at least 3 or 4 back up vocals which would be impossible for two people to sing.

This was inspired by the movie "Imitation of Life" which is a must see

That's exactly what I thought. A GREAT movie.

Mowtown....best lyrics and music.

WFDU in Teaneck NJ plays it 89.1 FM Request line Mon- Fri 201 692 2012

NEVER EVER BE ASHAMED OF YOUR MAM. SHE WONT BE THERE FOR EVER

Thought provoking , fabulous song and harmonies

I remember this song Grammar School Good Times what are the last signs day together

@Janeycruz2. Wonderful choice of photos for the montage. Very complimentary for this bitter sweet song.

best music ever made

May 2018 .. who's listening.

2018 august

Sept 14, 2018!! With tears in my eyes....

It's sad to say that was her best song,, did it have meaning for her,,,

I totally forgot this song. I think this is the best Supreme's song.

The beauty of the song is that it's tuneful yet tells a strongly emotional story and teaches a lesson. The lyrics are harsh but poignant. They make the singer sound like a vain, superficial snob! But they hit home! After all what comes first, mother love or uptown friends? It's not till her mother was gone that she realized the answer! Too late!

I only discovered this one recently but I’m a suck for these tear jerker songs. The story this song told is heartbreaking but it was real feelings. May we all hug our moms a little tighter.

I LOVE this Song, and all of The Supremes' Songs!!! Diana Ross' Vocals, the Orchestra Music, Drums, Bass, Tambourine, and Background Vocals, are OFF THE CHARTS!!!!!! Motown is the BEST!!!! I just LOVE Diana Ross!!!!! This is a FANTASTIC Song!!!!! I really miss the Former Songwriters, Holland-Dozier-Holland, but R. Dean Taylor, Frank Wilson, Deke Richards, and Pam Sawyer, did an AWESOME Job with this Song. They also wrote, the AWESOME Song, "Love Child." Motown sure knew how to find the Best TALENT!!!! Happy 60th Birthday, to MOTOWN, in 2018.

Mama your walking on streets of gold now rip you hanging with jesus now nobody can reach you anymore illll see you again someday

I'm living in shame. I miss my mom every day.

I miss my mother everyday.

It makes me cry everytime

love this song

Jameycruzz2. My sentiments exactly. This is a great song, but it made me very sad each time I heard it. Even to this day.

fab song, brilliant singer xx

2017 and still loving this and Motown. xx

2018 and it still hurts everytime I hear this.

2018 and still the best.

2018 and still listening

This song fucks me up emotionally.

Always has.

Still Love It, though.

Marvin Mcoy ... yep i can relate to that

I have all kinds and shades of mommy issues. This song has always hit me so hard. Yes, I feel ashamed of my mom. It hurts soo soo bad to say this. I have no other outlet, so here we are.

great song then, still rocks

I miss my mum lots makes you think never a shame of you you did your best for all off us

Saddest line ever,,, "Came the telegram, Mamma passed away while making home made Jam"

jasminda! we have mothers in law, pyromane... well when humans werent born in prison we had mothers in law

Tear jerker

real music😘

this is real music , and the lyrics are so heartfelt, love your mom no matter how poor or rich , we are all spiritual beings no matter our material possessions,

Lyrics
Mamas cookin' bread
She wore a dirty raggedy scarf around her head
Always had her stockings low rolled to her feet she just didn't know
She wore a sloppy dress
Oh no matter how she tried she always looked a mess
Out of the pot she ate never used a fork or a dinner plate
I was always so afraid that my uptown friends would see her
Afraid one day when I was grown
That I, that i would be her

In college town, away from home a new identity I found
Said I was born elite with maids and servants at my feet
i must have been insane i lied and said mama died on a weekend trip to Spain
She never got out of the house never even boarded a train
Married a guy, was living high I didn't want him to know her
She had a grandson two years old that I never even showed her

I'm living in shame
Mama, I miss you
I know you're not to blame
Mama, I miss you

Came a telegram
Mama passed away while making home made jam
Before she died she cried to see me by her side
She always did her best
Ah cooked and cleaned and always in the same old dress
Working hard, down on her knees always trying to please
Mama, mama, mama can you hear me
Mama, mama, mama can you hear me

I'm living in shame
Mama, I miss you
I know you've done your best
Mama, I miss you
Won't you forgive me mum
For all the wrong I've done
I know you've done your best
Oh I know you've done the very best you could
But i learned and understood
Working hard, down on your knees
Mama you were always, always trying to please
You were so good to me
Mama mama mama...

Gracias!!!!

Thanks for the words.

I never liked this song.its only good point is that it contributed to their increasing theme albums.A rarity for girl groups

This song ALLLWAYS makes me cry. I am a marshmallow over Mama songs.Still lucky enough to have her.

+Denise Culton Me to just such a cool song.

Enjoy the time you can spend with her!!!

what is there to say, except that this was real music?

Oh got-DAMN.  The Motown hit-making machine at its FINEST.  This was the gorgeous follow-up to the gritty and controversial "Love Child" .  The Supremes' Svengali-producers,  Holland-Dozier-Holland were no longer writing for Motown,  so Berry Gordy assembled a special task force with one goal: Write H-D-H -type hits to keep the Supes at the top of the Billboard charts.  It was working there,  for a hot minute. This song is so-o energetic;  so well-done.

I love this song. I was little the last time I heard it. Mom I miss you.. Never was I ashamed of you or Papá... TE AMO...MUNCHO MUNCHO CON TODO MI CORAZON💖💚💜💙💛

I love this song even tho it is sad. If you have lost your mom you will understand.

I understand

@Ronnie Young dam shame

@ree ree she dose mor than u could ever no

I already know, My mom did all she could for me. I was never ashamed of my mom.

Oh Pam , remember this on you old record player, I miss you so much,my childhood and grown up friend, we went through thick and thin, tears and laughter , miss you so much xxx

I agree wonderful song......Just like Elvis In the Ghetto nobody would touch the song he did and I'm glad he did.

wow, great comparison, in the Ghetto was similar theme to this, may peace break out in all our hearts

Some songs only 1 person can sing it.

This describes Pip and Joe's relationship in a nutshell!

Great lyrics

great song from the supremes;  but that line "came the telegram,mama passed away while makin homemade jam" cracks me up every time.

yeah me too I remember being on a double date and singing along with that part and I had all three laughing

Yeah, that line just jumps the shark. Takes it straight to unintentionally funny. I mean, if she never even used a fork or dinner plate.....how would she know how to make jam?

I can't see the hilarity in it myself.

Brilliant

Real meaningful song

http://madamenoire.com/450353/secrets-behind-the-making-of-imitation-of-life/13/ That was an interesting time during those times. Still is really

The lady crying is Susan Kohner...great performance!

IRONIC that "I'm Living In Shame" & "Love Child" would become autobiographical for Diane Ross because of her "out off wedlock" sexual relations with Berry Gordy!
She inflicted those two song on her daughter Rhonda!

OKay, you are getting ridiculous.  One thing has nothing to do with the other.  I am not condoning anyone who falls in love with someone and have a child with them, I am not their judge however.  You are going off topic. Enjoy your day!

Lol….Dee Mari….Once again, you've gone off topic the moment you suggested that Diane Ross was ever in love with the man she gave sex to in exchange of him granting her a "solo career" riding the coattails of THE SUPREMES. That's what Motown CEO,"THE BOSS", Berry Gordy did for her!

TWTR4EVER I realize you dont like Diana Ross, but gotdamn, u have made it your life journey to degrade & embarrass her. If someone was to take a poll on how many children are borned out of wedlock, I'm willing to bet that "bastard" babies as you call them outnumber children w/both parents married to each other. Like I told you on another text, before pointing a finger @ someone else, look in the mirror & point that same finger @ your holier than thou ass. Remember this for as long as you live, that if you take six months to take care of your own business, & six months to leave everybody else's business alone, this world would be a better place to live!

TWTR4EVER I wish I were close to you, I'd stomp a mud hole in your ass.

TWTR4EVER Im glad Im not God, because I'd bust your ass wide open w/a bolt of lightning, & dare your filthy raggedy fucked up spirit to move. If you want to complain about somebody, start w/that idiotic, self-centered, stupid ass mutherfucker son of a bitch, whatever it is, ass wipe in the white house!

Class, sheer class.

Would someone actually write something as dorky in a telegram as "Mama passed away while making homemade jam"?

Ben Lee If you can do better, why dont you. While you are complaining, theyre laughing all the way to the bank! Can you say the same?

I don't consider her my 'mom'...We haven't talked in years.

yow your right but she is still your m,om and it is sad to see lou

I hate to say this, but some 'mothers' need to be treated like shit! Toni

JameyCruz2- My mother didn't give birth... she had something removed! Love the story woven here however...

she still did,nt have to treat her mom like shit

you should be more than living in shame,you have 1 mother and one father i guess you forgot

This song goes to prove that Motown wasn't all about dance music. The greatest and saddest lyrics that I've ever heard.

you only have one mom,don,t forget that

This is a beautiful bittersweet song. Thanks for everything, mum.xxx

On this day in 1969 {March 8th} Diana Ross & the Supremes performed "I'm Livin' In Shame" on the syndicated TV program 'The Hollywood Palace'...
Two months earlier on January 25th it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; eventually it peaked at #10 and spent 8 weeks on the Top 100...
The Andanres provided the backing vocals on the record, not Supremes Mary Wilson or Cindy Birdsong...
Ms. Ross will celebrate her 69th birthday in eighteen days on May 26th...

thank !!!!

great song and story

anen to that!

Surprise her. Two days after that we were at my uncle's funeral and her mom still didn't know that she was in town. I was livid. She has three kids that I know were here for Christmas and she didn't even bother to take her children to see her mom. She shouldn't be the one thats ashame; it should be her mother that's ashamed of her. She loves that child to death and all her child can do is think about what other people will say about this woman that gave her life and shed blood and tears for...

This is exactly what I witness all the time with one of my cousins and her mom. My cousin is the youngest out of her mom's four kids. She's the blessed child. She was born with good looks and intellegents. On the other had my other three cousins doesn't have either.She try to conceal this all the time. Going as far to even moving from GA to NC, just to get away from her mom and sibilings. For Christmas I called her only to find out that she was in Atlanta, she said don't tell my mom I want to

This is singing about something besides whose jealous of whom, or whose got the best shit, or some other nonesense. These cats today think they're getting gut honest because they rap about some bullshit on the streets or in the studio, but tell us how greasy you treated your family, or about how honestly bad you feel about not giving a shit about people on the low - and maybe I'll hear you. Until then; I don't give a damn about your stuff, your women, your grudges, or you.

lyrics,lyrics......this is what makes Old School the very best!!!

I cry everytime I hear this song!